Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1887-08-06
THE BALTIMORE 8 OHIO AND ITS
DEAL.

The elder Garrett was not a great
railroad man in his day by great
deal, as this paper has often pointed
out. He was altogether too close
and tee shortsighted for the posi-,
ton ne held. He let slip number
of precious opportunities that could
have been secured for very moder-
ate outlays. For instance, he could
have easily owned the single line
between. Baltimore and Phlladel-
phia, and he could eitherhave owned
or secured perpetual rights of way
and terminal facilities over the New
Jersey road between Philadelphia
aud New York. He never seemed
to comprehend that rivalry with the
Pennsylvania road would sooner or
later result in exclusive privileges TO
the one line or the other between
these points. His conservative
training as banker united him to
go into a far reaching investment
for the future.
The story as to how he was left
out in the cold at New York is too
old to need repetition. Likewise the
story by which his successor was
outwitted in the Philadelphia, Will
mington and Baltimore purchase.
The Pennsylvania road completely
outgeneraled both father and son.
AT one time the Baltimore and
Ohio could have controlled the Fort
Wayne road (Pittsburg to Chicago),
but let the opportunity slip. Then
| it built line of its own to Chicago,
but having built to the gates of
Chicago was content to get a lease
Into the city over the Illinois Gen.
trail, and now it is being elected at
the end OF the lease, and if dispoS-
sessed will be again at the gatesof
the city with no terminal for bust
ness. Aa ~
For years the road controlled the
Ohio Il Mississippi Cincinnati to
st. Louisl and as the stock was prac-
tically worthless, it could have own
ed a controlling interest forever.
But a year or so ago the Erie step
ped in and got control, and the Bal
timore and Ohio was again outgen.
eraled. Recently, to get to st. Louis,
it made q dicker with a Cincinnati
and Indianapolis road (the Cincin-
natl, Hamilton and Dayton) and
still later with an Indianapolis and
st. Louis road, which latter is being
contested by the Pennsylvania.
AS the case stands today the Balti-
more and Ohio is to certain extent
moribund trunk line, being head
less IN New York and footless in
Chicago and st. Louis. And all be-
cause of the shortsightedness of its
management.
1t would seem as if Mr.. Robert
Garrett had become Respondent
over the situation aud anxious to
sell out and let somebody else see
what he could do in the way OF sup
plying head and a couple OF feet
to the line. He has had dicker
with small fry firm in New York,
which after being on hand for near
| ~ half q year ingloriously collapsed
and left the road in the same disa-
bled condition as before. This, too,
after having built an expensive line
to Philadelphia and boughta terminal
on Staten Island, in New York bay,
several miles below the city, which,
as far as is known to day, there is
little likelihood of his reaching
with q road.
| This is humiliating position for
a road as old and important as the
b. u o. It shows a record Of inca.
pacity that would be hard to dupli-
cate. The people OF Baltimore evil
IDENTIFY feel as if great belittlement
had come to their great road: as If
ttheir rights and interests and their
prestige had been greatly cheapen-
ed in the estimation of the country.
| AS it were, they haye been offered
at auction without finding buyer.
| 1t looks as il Baltimore was not
enough Of a place, present or prospec-
tive, to find an investor in its future.
| We presume they are glad to have
| an end of the inglorious fiasco, and
would not object to giving Mr.. Gar
rett perpetual leave Of absence in
Observation-Disclosures.